Merry Christmas - Here is your new W2 form!
Most
of you know by now that the W2 forms have changed for 2001. See W2
Filing for details. Computers
continue to get faster and cheaper. Now
for about $900 you can get a Pentium 4 at 1,300 MHz. Quite fast as several
customers now have them. Any time you
are considering an equipment upgrade, we encourage you to call for
consultation. Our hardware expertise is
part of support.
I
included the Printers section again, 4p laser W2’s are quite nice but
require certain printers. Folks
continue to buy “home” quality printers which just plain fall short of
commercial needs.
We
have a new upgrade available via www.tutsoftware.com. The
update process for TUT is virtually automatic except on Windows 2000. The new revision is 6.10.01. October(10), 1, 2001(6).
While there will be another update before the end of the year, please install
this upgrade as the process requires all update to be done in order. While many have sent in their Support user
count reports, many have not – see Support
Update section.
"TUT
ALERT" has been put on the back burner until next summer. We will try to release updates timed with
the quarterly “Tut Talks” announcements.
Please note that the “W2 Forms Update” will be released by Dec 31,
2001. Internet is here to stay – Get
Connected & check our web site often.
http://tutsoftware.com
Now
some specific issues:
Support Update
Starting
with 3rd Quarter bills, support pricing is now based on a formula
using the number of people on payroll each week. If your bill shows the number of users to be 999 you have not run
the “Support Update” report and as a result you bill was for $300 the maximum amount
charged. Many have paid the $300 without
noticing the user count. We will make
credit adjustments provided you get the reports in before Dec 31, 2001. Please follow these instructions:
Upgrade to at lease 6.4.25 or better to 6.10.01
From the main menu select “System Utilities”
From that menu select “Support Update”
At the warning select “Run Report”
Fax the resulting report to 800-646-6885
W2 Filing
The
W2 forms have changed. We will have the
new programming completed by the end of December. Transform Technologies has already provided us with test forms to
program to. Please get your forms from
them, as they know which of the many available we will support. Many are getting the “Electronic Filing” itch. While this is good – new Federal
requirements include the need for a “Pin” number for the designated filer from
your company. This is available via
internet from the SS administration – we have a link on the web site under
“Support” to help you find it. Paper
filers only need worry about getting the right new forms. We currently do not support state electronic
W2 filing because of the lack of uniformity between states.
Check Reconciliation
Check
Reconciliation has received outstanding reviews from our customers. We encourage more of you to give it a
try. Instructions are available via our
web site under Support.
E - Fax / E – Mail
TUT
support faxes continue to be “E-Faxed” to us at help@tutsoftware.com. Our history of all the support requests has
been extremely valuable. Many have begun
to E–Mail for help directly instead of faxing.
It is a great tool for getting quick answers to short questions without
having to talk. However, one problem
has arisen. We often can not figure
out, from your email name, who you are.
We want to help – give us at least a phone number or company name to
work with.
Windows 98se / Windows Me / Windows 2000
This
is an ever changing area. Maybe we
should include XP already.
Windows
Me has proven to be most undesirable. It has frequent problems and seems to
loose or change settings at will. We
have developed some work arounds, but generally avoid ME if possible.
Windows
98 second edition (Win98se) in the very best out there. Many companies including Gateway 2000 still
offer it with new computers. If you
can, insist on Win98se. It is very TUT
friendly.
Windows
2000 is quite a bit different from previous Windows versions, as it is an NT
upgrade NOT an upgrade to Win98. There
are specific testing programs, which will tell you how much trouble an upgrade
might present. Unless you have some
specific problem with Win98se, upgrading is still not recommended. Windows 2000 workstations have a definite
problem working with Novel 3.X servers.
We have also had problems with the InstallShield upgrade software
working with Windows 2000. Please stay
away from Windows 2000 and Windows ME if you can.
Printers - Again
Selecting
a new printer is harder than it should be.
All the “deals” on combo fax/scanner/copier/printers and ink jet
printers only serve to throw you off course.
If you want one, fine, but not as your primary business printer. Tut requires Commercial Duty cycles and HP
PCL printer control language. (Tutsoftware.com
– Tut Talks - “Hal says Hi” for details) For $399 the HP LaserJet 1200se is considered the minimum. We are not asking you to go out and get a
new printer, but when the need arises, please select one of the same type
printers we now require of new customers.
Just
a reminder: moreinfo@tutsoftware.com (sales)
help@tutsoftware.com (bob & Jim)
jim@tutsoftware.com (yours truly)
Your
ideas & suggestions are needed as we strive to exceed your expectations.
Jim
Meidl, President